Cover attaching and locking means



Dec. 30, 1930. E. c. WAMELINK COVER ATTACHING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed May 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wxbv Dec. 30, 1930. c, WAMEUNK 1,786,802

COVER ATTACHING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed May 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 warren STATES PATENT oFFrcs EUGENE C. WAMELIN K, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE EATON AXLE & SPRING COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO COVER ATTAGI-IING AND LOCKING MEANS Application filed May 13, 1927. Serial No. 191,221.

This invention relates to closures of the type including a cap designed to cover or expose a body portion,v such as a neck, on the article to be closed, an arrangement frequently used in connection with gas tanks, radiators, breather tubes, tire valves, and other parts of automobiles, metal drums or containers, and like articles.

One object ofthe invention is to provide an arrangement of this kind in which the cap is connected to the body or neck by a hinged or swinging connection which avoids loss such as occurs when the cap is fully disconnectedfrom the body during every opening operation, and which hinged cap and body are provided with relatively rotatable parts operatable for producing a sealing or clamping effect to insure a tight joint.

A further object of the invention has to do with suchcapsor closures in which the parts should be connected in one definite position, such as in the case of a radiator provided with an ornament or operating handle which should always face the front of the car. The particular object of the in vention here being to insure proper registration of the parts and .avoid incorrect positio n.

A further object of the invention is to provid-e means controlled by the swinging movement of the cap to and from the body and arranged to permit relative rotation of the clamping parts when the cap is closed, but to prevent such rotation when the cap isopen, all for the purpose of maintaining proper registration of the parts.

- A' further object of the invention is to provide a locking connection between two relatively rotatable members, such as the parts of a radiator cap, designed to prevent unauthorized removal and therefore particularly applicable for use where one of the parts, such as the cap, carries a desirable part frequently stolen, such as a motometer.

' A further object is to provide an arrangement of this kind in-which the sealing or c'lampingeifect maybe produced by a motometereor some'ornamental device upon the cap but in amanner to, insure its proper positienin the. closed position.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter. e

in the drawings, which representthe invention applied for use on an automobile radiator cap, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, the motometer being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar view, the plane ofthe section being at 90 from that on which Fig.

1 is taken; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top on approximately the line 6-6, Fig. 1; Fig. I

7 is a detail elevation of a lockingringfor a motometer stem; Fig; 8 is'a similar view of the locking or clamping cam plate; Fig. 9

is a detail section of a packing ring; Fig. 10 is a detail section on'approximately the line 101() Fig. 1: and Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the neck sleeve.

While the invention may be used in various ways and on various articles such as those enumerated. above, and is therefore to be understood as not limited to the particular form shown, it has been illustrated for convenience of description in connection with the radiator cap of an automobile and will be so described. 1 indicates-the lil'ler neck for a radiator, the said neck having its upper outer end threaded, as indicated at l Cooperating with suchneck is a cap, which will i be described in detail. The cap comprises a base 'member A which is mounted upon the filler neck and a cover: B which is hinged to such base member. The lower end of the base A is provided with an upwardly extending annular recess 2 in which is fitted flange of an. annular sheet metal pa king strip, the horizontal flange being arranged to overlie the tops of the neck 1 and sleeve 3 while the vertical flange is fitted within an annular recess 9 provided therefor in the outer surface of said sleeve. The bottom of the flange 8 is turned inwardly, as shown at 8, to provide a short locking flange en tering a corresponding locking recess in the said sleeve. Between the horizontal flange 7 and the tops of the neck 1 and sleeve 3 is a packing washer 11. Above the flange 7 and between the same and the opposed surface of the base A is another packing washer 12. The parts 7-12 inclusive prevent any leakage of steam or water from the neck 1 through the recess 2 in the base A.

The upper end of the base A is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs 13, three such lugs being shown and the same being equidistantly spaced. These lugs or projections cooperate with the means to be described hereinafter for securing the cover B to the base A. The cover is connected to the base A by meansof a hinge lug 14 on said cover and cooperating hinge lugs 15 on the base, the said lugs receiving the pintle 16.

Y The under surface of the cover B is provided with an outer annular recess 17 and an inner annular bottom seat B within which is an annular recess 18 The recess 17 re cover is closed. The recess 18 receives a spring locking ring 20, the same being secured in place by a screw 21. The spring is provided, about 180 from the screw 21, with a short lug 20 and a long lug 20*; and the ring is given an initial shape such that, when secured in place by the screw 21, the opposite portion of the spring will be deflected downwardly. The deflection, or offsetting, of one portion of the locking ring with respect to the other, is shown in Fig. 7, and the purpose of the same will be explained hereinafter.

C denotes a motometer having a cylindrical base flange C from which there extends a threaded stem 22, the said stern being hollow for the reception of the tube 23 which contains the mercury or other expansive temperature-indicating liquid. The base flange C is adapted to be received Within the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 2 1 of a seat which is formed in the top of the cover B, the bottom of the seat being formed by an annular shoulder 25 at the inner edge of which a cylindrical opening 26 is provided within the central portion of the cover. 2?

denotes a flat ring surrounding the upper portion of the stem, there being a packing 28 interposed between the same and the bottom of the base flange C. Beneath the outer portion of the ring 27 and fitted within the lower portion of the wall 24 is a packing ring 29. Fitted withinthe cylindrical wall of the opening 26 is a sleeve 30, the said sleeve being supported from the shoulder 25 by means of a peripheral flange 30. The upper portion of the said sleeve is provided with an upwardly and outwardly beveled recess 30" between which and the bottom of the ring 27 there is inserted a tapered packing ring 31, the said ring being split, as shown in Fig. 9. The lower end of the sleeve 30 projects just below the central portion of the cover B and is provided with an annular recess 3O within which is fitted the inner edge of a locking device, the same consisting of a resilient; locking spring plate, indicated generally at D. The body of this plate extends horizontally outwardly below and in contact with the central portion of the cover B thereabove and has its outer edge formed into cam or screwthread segments, three such segments 32 being shown spaced from each other by recesses, and each segment being provided with a stop and cam throwout projection 33 at the upper end thereof. The segments are spaced apart by the recesses a suflicient distance to receive therebetween the "locking lugs or projections 13.

For the purpose of securing the motometer and the locking plate in place, a nut 34 is threaded upon the lower end of the stem and, by engagement with the lower end of the sleeve 30, serves to draw the stern downwardl y and to compress the various packing members 28, 29 and 31. hen the nut is so set up, the ring 31 is forced inwardly against the threads on the stem 22 and serves to lock the sleeve and the attached locking plate D to the stem. To prevent unlocking this nut, the wrenclrreceiving portion thereof is provided with a protecting collar 35 having its lower end bent downwardly and inwardly and formed into prongs 35 separated by slots 35* the said prongs being snapped into place within recess 34 in the said nut by pressing,

the collar upwardly after the nut is set up.

The hinge lug 1 1 is provided with a stop surface 14 adapted to engage a cooperating stop surface 14 formed on the cap base'A (see Fig. 2) whereby the swinging movement of the cover B about the hinge is limited. lVith the parts constructed and arranged as described the operation will be as follows: When it is desired to swing back the cover B, this result will be accomplished by rotating the motometer and its attached stem so as to bring the apertures D between the thread-segments into register with the projections 13, which will enable the cover to be swung about the hinge. While the cover is locked. in its closed position, the short projection 2O on the spring locking plate 20 is supported on top of one of the projections 13. WVhen the cover is swung open, the part of the spring locking plate carrying the projections 20 and 20 is free to assume its natural position, with .the result that the longer proa or clamping plate D to release position the cap may be freely swung to either open or clos d position, but without any liability of I claimis:-

jection 20 enters the slot D in the locking plate which has been brought into register with the locking lug or projection 13 with which the short lug 2O cooperates. This prevents the slots D from getting out of register "ith their respective locking lugs or projections while the cover is in its open position.

The base A is mounted to turn freely upon the sleeve 3 which will prevent the unauthorized removal of'the cap. However, when it is desired to remove the entire cap, this result may be secured by providing the sleeve with one or more recesses 36 in the same horizontal plane, each" recess having a stop-wall 37.

These recesses and stop walls are so arranged that, when a wire or other suitable appliance inserted through an opening 38 in the wall of the base A, it will afford a driving connection between the said base and the sleeve which will permit the sleeve to be unscrewed, together with the base. To permit action in the reverse direction, I provide one or more recesses 39 each having a stop wall 40 at the opposite end thereof from the walls 37, the recesses 39 being vertically spaced from the recesses 36. By inserting a similar wire or tool into an opening 41, a driving connection is effected between the base A of the sleeve 9, allowing the cap to be screwed back in place upon the neck 1. Each recess 36 tapers in depth from one end thereof to'its stop wall 37, while each recess 39 tapers in depth, in the reverse direction, to its stop wall 40. The holes 38 and 41 are normally plugged, with a relatively soft or fusible metal so that they are not readily discernible. \Vhen necessary to remove and replace the cap, the metal in the openings may be removed, as by fusion, to permit the insertion of the wire or tool into said openings. V

a With the arrangement described it is clear that by turningthe motometer and the cam lossof the parts by separation, When 1n position the motometer and cam plate are held against rotation compelling restoration of the parts to proper re istering relation with the lugs 13 when the cap is closed, and in the closed position the cam plate is'released after rotation to produce the sealing effect, all with a final result of insuring a' tight closure and prevent movement of the parts to incorrectposition such as when a motometer or other operating device for the cam is used, and at the same time preventing possible loss. i V y Having thus described myinvention, what 1. The combination with'a base, of a cov 7 er pivoted to said base, rotary locking means carried by said cover, locking means carried "bysaid base and adapted tojbe engaged and" *tary member and a cooperating lockin disengaged by said rotary locking means, and maintaining means operative upon separation of thecover and the base for autoatically preventing rotary movement of said rotary locking means during said separation.

2. The combination with a base, of a cover pivoted to said base, rotary locking means carried by said cover, locking meanscarried by said base and adapted to be engaged and disengaged by said rotary locking means, and maintaining means carried by said cover and operative upon separation of the cover and the base for automatically preventing rotary movement of said rotary locking means during said separation.

3. The combination with a base, of a cover pivoted to said base, rotary locking means carried by said cover, locking means carried by said base and adapted to be engaged and disengaged by said rotary locking means, maintaining means operative upon separation of the cover and the base for automatically preventing rotary movement of said rotary locking means during saidsep'aration, and means operable upon movement of the cover intocoop'erative relation with the base for automatically rendering said maintaining means ineffective to prevent rotary movement of said rotary locking means.

4. The combinationwith a base and a cover therefor, of a rotary member carried by the cover, a locking devicecarried by the rotary member and a cooperating locking device carried by the base, -ndeans'for securing the first mentioned locking device to the rotary member, said means comprising a sleeve mounted upon the cover and through which the rotary member extends and with which the first mentinoed locking device is asso- I ciated, said sleeve having a tapered recess at its upper end surrounding the rotary member, a split tapered ring mounted in said recess, a nut threaded upon the rotary member belo'w and adapted to engage said sleeve, a projection on the rotary member above saidsplit ring, and means interposed s between said projection and said ring for transmitting the thrust of the said ring as the nut is set up.-

5. The combination with a base and a cover therefor, of a rotary member carried by the cover, a locking device carried by the rog device carried by the base, means for securing the first mentioned locking device to the rotary member, said means comprising a sleeve mounted upon the cover and through which the rotary member extends" and with which the first mentioned locking device is associated, said sleeve having a tapered recess at its upper end surrounding the rotary member, a split tapered ring'niounted'in said recess, nut threaded upon the rotary member below and-adapted to engage said sleeve,

projection to a projection on the rotary member above said split ring, means interposed between said projection and said ring for transmitting the thrust of the projection to said ring as the nut is set up, and a casing carried by from said tubular member, said means comprising spaced apertures through that portion of said base member surrounding said sleeve and each adapted to receive a suitable tool, and recesses in said sleeve adapted to register with said apertures whereby the insertion of the tool will eflect a driving connection between said base member and said sleeve, therecesses.tapering in opposite direct-ions circumferentially of said sleeve and each having a tool-engaging wall at one end thereof;

7. The combination with an externally threaded tubular member, of a base member having an annular recess in the inner surface thereof, a sleeve within said recess and threaded upon said tubular member, said base member being normally rotatable about said sleeve, means whereby a driving engagement may be obtained between said base member and said sleeve whereby said base member may be applied to and removed from said tubular member, and means for effecting a tight joint between the base member, the sleeve therein, and the upper end of said tubular member said means comprising a ring angular in section and having a horizontal flange adapted to overlie the tops of said tubular member and said sleeve andhaving a vertical flange mounted within an annular seat in the upper outer wall of said sleeve, the lower end of said vertical flange being bent inwardly-and seated within a groove in said sleeve.

8. The combination with an externally threaded tubular member, of a base member having an annular recess in the inner surface thereof, a sleeve within said recess and threaded upon said tubular member, said base member being normally rotatable about said sleeve, means whereby a driving engagement may be obtained between said base member and said sleeve whereby said base member may be applied to and removed from said tubular member, and means for eflecting a tight joint between the base member, the sleeve therein, and the upper end of said tubular member said means comprising a ring angular in section and having a horizontal flange adapted to overlie the tops of said tubular member and said sleeve and having a vertical flange surrounding the upper outer portion of said sleeve.

9. The combination with an externally threaded tubular member, of a base member having an annular recess in the inner surface thereof, a sleeve within said recess and threaded upon said tubular member, said base being normally rotatable about said sleeve, means whereby a driving engagement may be obtained between said base member and said sleeve whereby said base member may be applied to and removed from said tubular member, and means for effecting a tight joint between the base member, the sleeve therein, and the upper end of the tubular member, said means comprising a ring angular in section and having a horizontal flange :mapted to overlie the tops of the tubular member and the sleeve and having a vertical flange surrounding the upper outer portion of said sleeve, a packing washer interposed between said horizontal flange and the tops of said tubular member and said sleeve, and a packing washer interposed between the top of said horizontal flange and the wall at the top of the recess in the base member.

10. The combination with an externally threaded tubular member, of a base member having an annular recess in the inner sur face thereof, a sleeve within said recess and threaded upon said tubular member, said base being normally rotatable about said sleeve, means whereby a driving engagement may be obtained between said base member and said sleeve whereby said base member may be applied to and removed from said tubular member, and means for effecting a tight joint between the base member, the sleeve therein, and the upper end of said tubular member, said means comprising a ring angular in section and having a horizontal flange adapted to overlie the tops of the tubular member and the sleeve and having a vertical flange mounted within an annular seat in the upper outer wall of said sleeve, the lower end of said vertical flange being bent inwardly and seated within a groove in said ring, a packing washer interposed between the horizontal flange and the tops of the tubular member and the sleeve, and a packing washer interposed between the top of said horizontal flange and the wall at the top of the recess in the base member.

11; A closure structure, comprising a base provided with an opening to be closed, a cap mounted for swinging movement at one side thereof into open and closed positions, said closure structure including relatively rotatable parts for producing a sealing effect, and means engageable with one of said parts for preventing relative rotation between said parts when the cap is in open position.

12, A closure structure, comprising a base provided with an opening to be closed, a cap mounted for swinging movement at one side thereof into open and closed positions, said closure structure including relatively rotatable parts for producing a sealing effect, and

means controlled by the swinging movement of the cap for permitting relative rotation of said parts when the cap is in closed position and for preventing such rotation when the cap is in open position.

13. The combination with a base member, of a cover member hinged thereto, relatively rotatable bayonet joint locking parts on said members, one thereof having lockingprojections adapted to register with gaps on the other member to pass through the same to operative position, and means for maintaining registering relationof said projections and gaps when the cover member is moved toward open position.

14. The combination with a base member, of a cover member hinged thereto, relatively rotatable bayonet joint locking parts on said members, one thereof having locking projections adapted to register with gaps on the other member to pass through the same to operative position, an operating device for said parts extending through the cover memher to anexposed position outside of the same, and means for preventing rotation of said operating device when the cover member is moved toward open position to thereby maintain registering relation of said projections and gaps.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

EUGENE G. WAMELINK. 

